Significance Level α and the ρ -value Researchers reporting on their findings rely on a variety of tools to determine whether observed relationships between variables are actual, or due to chance/probability. According to Ary, Jacobs, and Razavieh (2002), researchers must establish a probability level before they are willing to declare that there is a relationship where none exist, or declare that no relationship exist when in fact one does exist. Test of statistical significance assesses how certain one can be that a relationship actually exists.